President Donald Trump will be holding a signing ceremony on Friday for the US government’s new 500 billion dollar (£405 billion) coronavirus relief bill.

The package, which was passed on Thursday, will bring relief to employers and hospitals buckling under the strain of a pandemic that has claimed almost 50,000 American lives and one in six US jobs.

Anchoring the bill is 250 billion dollars (£202.5 billion) to replenish a fund to help small and medium-size businesses with payroll, rent and other expenses.

The payroll programme provides forgivable loans so businesses can continue paying workers while forced to stay closed for social distancing and stay-at-home orders.

It also contains 100 billion dollars (£81 billion) for hospitals and a nationwide testing program, along with 60 billion dollars (£48.6 billion) set aside for small banks that focus on development in urban neighbourhoods and rural areas ignored by many lenders.

There’s also 60 billion dollars (£48.6 billion) for small-business loans and grants delivered through the Small Business Administration’s existing disaster aid program.

Mr Trump celebrated the bill’s passage at his daily White House briefing on Thursday.

At a time when many Americans are enduring significant economic challenges, this bill will help small businesses to keep millions of workers on the payroll.Donald Trump

“At a time when many Americans are enduring significant economic challenges, this bill will help small businesses to keep millions of workers on the payroll,” he said.

Passage of more coronavirus relief is likely in the weeks ahead.

Supporters are already warning that the business-backed Payroll Protection Programme will exhaust the new 250 billion dollars (£202.5 billion) almost immediately.